Faith in Action – June 20, 2025

*Tech tip:  If you find that you are not seeing photos in your e-mail, click on the “View in browser” link at the top of your page.

100th Anniversary Colouring Contest: Get out your crayons, markers, paints…to Celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada! There will be a different colouring pages each week until the end of June. Paper copies will be available on Sunday.  Everyone is welcome to participate!

NO Worship Services in July – Please note that we will be continuing our tradition of giving our staff and volunteers a time to rest, recharge and catch-up on work behind the scenes by not having Sunday services during the month of July.  The last service in June will be on June 29 and the first service in August will be on August 3.  The office will be closed from June 16-August 18, but the answering machine and e-mails will be monitored – please don’t hesitate to reach out as needed.  If you would like to catch up on services that you missed, please visit: WPUC 2025 Playlist

It’s time for WPUC’s Annual Virtual Garden Tour! – Time to do some weeding and get your gardens camera ready! This will be WPUCs 6th annual tour so don’t miss out!  Whether you are a stay-at-home gardener or someone who enjoys visiting other gardens or natural areas, you are invited to send in your garden photos!  To take part, please send in photos of your favourite spots in your garden or a garden you’ve visited, to be part of a slide show.
Send your photos to:  laura.wpuc@gmail.com
Tips: Photos work best if they are taken in landscape
– try to move closer to the flowers rather than using zoom
– watch your light (cloudy days are great for flower photos and colors really pop after a rain!)
If you need help, contact Laura at laura.wpuc@gmail.com

Please include: the name of whose garden it is (first names are fine) and/or location of the garden (city, park, province, etc.)

Your photos can include:  beautiful flowers, garden features, amazing containers, delicious looking veggies, garden wildlife, etc. Friends, neighbours, and family are welcome to join in, too!

**Deadline to send in photos is Thursday, July 31. 

For some inspiration and to see the videos from the 2020-2024 Garden Tours, click here:  WPUC Garden Tour Playlist Watch for the 2025 Virtual Garden Tour video in early August!

Pastoral Care Group – If you are aware of anyone from our church community who might benefit from Pastoral Care support, please email or leave a general message (office@windsorparkunitedchurch.com or 204-256-8792) to share discreetly – someone will get back to you.  *Again, please note that the answering machine and email will be monitored during July and August.

Don’t forget that the Holy Grounds Café Coffee Group meets every Wednesday from 1-2:30 p.m. There will not be a Holy Grounds meeting on July 2, but otherwise, this group will continue to meet throughout the summer months.  Come out for a coffee and a visit!

Emergency Food Cupboard – Our Emergency Food Pantry will be open during the summer months on Wednesdays (except for July 2).  Thank you to everyone who volunteered to work a shift!

As well, we will continue to collect donations of food items (particularly PASTA SAUCE, small jars of PEANUT BUTTER and tea) while the church is open in June and August. Thank you in advance for any support that you can offer. Together, we can ensure that members of our community have access to some basic items at a challenging time.

Summer Book Sale – Our next used book sale will take place on Sunday, June 22, before and after worship.  Cash only – payment by donation.  Stock up for your summer reading!

Taking care of our Building:  Once again, the floors in the church will be stripped and waxed.  There will be no access to the basement from Saturday, June 21 to Sunday, June 29. There will be no access to the whole building from Monday, June 30 to Saturday, July 5.

Covenanting Service – Thank you to everyone who helped plan, lead and host the beautiful covenanting service and reception on Wednesday, June 11! To see photos from the service:  Click here

UCC Crest Banner: Thank you to Audrey Turley for creating the beautiful United Church crest banner that was dedicated on June 15 and which we will be able to enjoy for years to come!

Worship Leaders: Thank you to everyone involved in leading worship this spring.  A special thank you to our liturgists, Worship Choir and Harmony Singers for sharing their time, talents and leadership with us!

Thank you as well to our Greeters, who are so welcoming to everyone!  If you would like to be involved in this hospitality ministry, please speak to Alana Davis as she is already planning for August and the fall months.

Thank you to our Offering Counters who take the time after church to make sure that all of the offerings of the day are tabulated and accounted for.  There will be more opportunities to count in August!

Thank you to everyone who has participated in making coffee/bringing treats/Sunday clean-up, etc. This time of coffee and conversation after church helps us to stay connected as a faith community!

Beyond Our Walls:

Spread the word!  WPUC has space for rent!  Thank you to everyone who has been sharing suggestions and information on our rental spaces.  For more information on spaces and fees, please visit http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/services/  or call the church office!

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE – Our very successful Second Bed Build was held on Saturday, May 31! If you missed seeing the photos from the build, you can find them at: http://www.windsorparkunitedchurch.com/sleep-in-heavenly-peace-photos/

Thank you for your support for those affected by wildfires!

To date, we have made 2 deliveries of donations to a depot organized by the Manitoba Metis Federation and a third one to the Winnipeg Humane Society – thank you for your generosity!  Since access to the church will be limited during the summer break, we will not be collecting further items at this time and will update in August if there is still a need.

The Red Cross is accepting donations: Manitoba Wildfires Response 2025 – Canadian Red Cross
Donations will be matched by Provincial and Federal governments until the end of June.

Prayers:

• Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who are impacted by the extreme heat/weather changes we have been experiencing in Manitoba, particularly those without indoor shelter and those attempting to care for their health and safety needs;
• Please pray for all God’s creation; for the safety and spiritual and mental health of those evacuating or awaiting such orders and of all first responders and leaders.  We also pray for those returning home to devastation and loss.  Through our prayers, may we be moved to offer whatever help we can in this moment and over the longer term, as the reality of trauma and destruction make themselves felt.
• Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in places across the world where war and aggression continue, and in some cases, have accelerated in recent days:  Israel and Palestine now involving Iran; Ukraine.
• The Power of Prayer: Call for daily prayer for wildfire impacts. Keewatin Circle, the Indigenous United Church in Manitoba, invites you to pray with them for all communities in Canada regarding the forest fire emergencies. Praying will take place for 1 hour each evening beginning at 7:00 pm CDT (Manitoba/ NWO), 6:00 pm Mountain and CST, 5:00 pm Pacific. We are praying for the following:
  • Rain
  • Safety of all communities
  • Safety of evacuees
  • Safety for all those responding to the needs of evacuees.
  • Safety for those who are in communities fighting fires.
  • As well as the animals both domestic and wild

  We are asking that all communities pray with us, as prayer is stronger when we come together in times of need.